It was nothing short of shocking when that column suggested that Israel should "examine the ethical and logistical consequences" of obliterating a foreign capital city, some 3.5 million civilians and all, in order to rid the world of Hezbollah.

Etzioni wrote about observing how the Israel Defense Force (IDF) would find and destroy the estimated thousands of missiles Hezbollah has hidden in civilian homes around the city, carried out on a model village called Eljakim, built by the IDF in northern Israel.

Several problems, including snipers, inadequate cover, and the Hezbollah tunnel network would make such a plan almost impossible to carry out.

According to Etzioni, US military contacts suggested Fuel-Air Explosives (FAE), which cause massive explosions and flatten buildings over a large range.

Etzioni is sure that the international community would understand such action, he says, were they in Israel's place. He then invites "foreign military experts and public intellectuals, who are not known to be hostile to Israel" to come see the show at Eljakim.

"In this way, one hopes, that there be a greater understanding, if not outright acceptance, of the use of these powerful weapons, given that nothing else will do," he concludes.